The Blacklist airs Thursday nights at 10:00/9:00c on NBC. Live episode discussions and next day post episode discussions will be conducted when the show is airing.

About the Show

For decades, ex-government agent Raymond Reddington (James Spader) has been one of the FBI's most wanted fugitives. Brokering shadowy deals for criminals across the globe, Red was known by many as "The Concierge of Crime".

Ugh for some reason the spoiler tag isn't working for me. I copy&pasted it directly from the sidebar so I have no idea what the issue is. That said, if you do want the spoilers, I'd be happy to just PM them to you (or anyone else)

I'm pretty sure he felt something for her. I mean, he's only human. Unless he's a sociopath, investing 2 years of his life in a marriage with this woman is going to cause some very serious internal conflict between his mission and his feelings for her.

The way he talked about Red seems to imply he thinks that Red is a danger to her in some way. It's not inconceivable that he feels protective towards her for some reason.

Edit: While rewatching, I notice that when he leaves the first time, he tells her how beautiful she is, and when he goes to leave he tells her he loves her. He pauses, looks conflicted and pained, and then tells her he loves her. Those are not the actions of a sociopath. Those are the actions of a man that knows he's about to walk out on a woman that he truly loves. He knows what that's going to do to her, and it kills him. No doubt in my mind.

I think he pitied her, rather than loved her. He knew it would hurt her and he didn't want to, but he doesn't love her. He would have found another way out if that was the case. He works for an intelligence agency of some sort. It is large enough to give him a fake family, history, coordinate a handler, etc. They could have faked a death or he could have told them he had been compromised much earlier in the relationship if he really cared.

He had a job to finish and that is why he stayed.

The only thing I don't understand is the emphasis on the adoption. Why would that have been a priority for him? To keep her from the job? There is seemingly no real reason for that. That goes to the point to that he is cruel. Not only did he fake his marriage, but he would have also put a child into the mix. With what outcome?

I don't really have anything to counter your points. Have to disagree though. His still wearing the wedding ring just doesn't feel like a man who didn't fall in love or at the very least actually care for her. Not sure that can be explained as well with just pity.

I have literally nothing to say about the adoption. That's the biggest flaw in my argument, because you're right. There's no explanation I can think of that isn't cruel.

Yes, the adoption has been something I've commented on here a few times. I can't help but think it's leading up to something at some point. It's hard for me to accept that it's just a side note in the series of events. Why did Tom push so hard for an adoption? It has to be for a better reason than to just keep her from her job. I mean, if they were to adopt a baby, by just doing that would not keep Red from being involved in Liz's life at all. What Red wants to do and where he wants to go has never been a problem-he just does it. Did Tom actually think she'd be a stay-at-home mom and drop everything that has to do with her career-and certainly probably not forever. There has to be more to it than that.

agreed - unless it was simply used as a plot point to explore her character's adoption. So many other ways to have done this though. If that was the goal I think I would have rather seen more of her relationship with her adoptive father. That would have offered some depth to her character and helped move along the Red/paternity mystery.

As it is the whole adoption story line was useless really - just confusing for no real reason and with no connection to the arc.

The Pavlovich Brothers are incredibly capable and always plan for many contingencies, until the episode is over and they die stupidly in a firefight with a handful of agents who don't work all that well together.

I love the show, but many of our "number of the week" plots have huge holes in them.

I don't think so. The way Tom said it it seemed to be some evidence supporting his own side and why he did the things he did, not just trying to prove to Liz that he lied about something, Liz knows he lies. Nobody tracks someone for years because they lied about being the biological father.

The thing is, Red said he NEVER lied to her. And he seems pretty true to his word about that kind of stuff. He's frequently misled her/others through vagueness. But I don't think we've seen him actually lie to her. She asked him if he's her dad and he said no.

Yeah but red doesn't pretend to be good. He's very open about the bad things he does as well as all, the good things he does. He's neutral. He does bad things when he wants he does good when he wants. He really has the ideal lifestyle.

What's funny is that you knew it from the start. He played the role of playing a role so well. You knew his character was playing a role (Keane's Husband) but you couldn't find a single mistake or flaw.

I think we can just accept the fact that we will not know about their biological relationship this season. I think it will be a cliff hanger until season 2. I hope I am wrong, but that really is the reason I continue to watch. Keeping that hanging guarantees a strong season 2 audience.

I would though like to see more Red backstory - the fire, family, etc. That can be revealed without touching the "is he/isnt he" her father story line. Perhaps spoiler Who knows. If past reveals have been any indication, this can be huge, or nothing.

My guess is he killed her father and family. Her father was a friend of his, they had a falling out of some sort... Reddington ended up killing her father and the rest of Liz's family somehow (maybe through someone he hired). Liz escaped, he saved her, felt guilty, and cared for her discreetly.

There's an interview with Ryan Eggold where he talks about the glasses and why he chose them.

I found it interesting that he doesn't need glasses (but did) and how he feels about wearing them off set because it helped an internal conflict I've been having. I have terrible vision, to the point that my eye dr. said most patients with my vision get surgery. I had never considered it, because my glasses have become a part of my identity (and they're a really great accessory, imo). I've never been, shall we say, fashion forward but my fiancee really changed all that and now I couldn't imagine going without glasses. Personal interjection concluded.

Yeah, but I mean, having never tortured someone for information before she can't be blamed. I mean, I know how I would do it. Solution of concentrated sodium hydroxide applied directly to their skin. They'll get to watch and feel themselves being dissolved away. As Aram said, "that's pretty messed up."

Isn't it more or less common super agent knowledge that to get out of cuffs you break your thumb? I still don't entirely get why, but it's in every spy movie ever to break your thumb to get out of cuffs quick.

Gotta be careful with any method that can lead to infection (my idea included). Sepsis kills, and who knows how long they'll hold out. Under your method, it's certainly a big risk.

Tbh, torturing for information is of questionable value. You're a lot more likely to get unreliable results because they will say anything to get the pain to stop. The CIA tried for years to perfect a "mind control" or interrogation drug through MKULTRA for a reason. Although they never had success because a lot of the drugs they tried produce very set and setting dependant experiences, I think you may have a better chance at good intel via polypharmacological methods.

I've taken a few classes on drugs as part of my neuroscience degree, but this is all speculation. MDMA combined with sedatives is certainly a viable route, lower inhibition, increase empathy, and get the right kind of interrogator. I think one of the big problems the CIA had is they underestimated how set and setting will factor into the experience. Put someone in a jail cell and give them LSD, they're going to have a bad experience, be anxious and tell you nothing. Give them anxiolytics, put them into a comfortable place with people who are not so much interrogating as just hanging out, making friends, etc. and you're going to have better results.

Sorry this was probably way more than you were bargaining for as a reply. I can't help it...

Well ya if you want to get real, useful information, you either make them your ally by being nice. But if you have a husband who is actually someone who spies on you than you would want to torture him because his an asshole and he banged you

I'm kinda glad Tom got away simply because he and red are two of the better written characters on the show. I get the feeling tom is of some important to Berlin seeing how so many people died to protect him.

1x01 had the stupid kidnapping that was wholly unbelievable. There have only been a few excellent episodes the rest of them all have huge problems but for some reason I keep watching because I want to know what happens.

I had a feeling that the Tom switch might have been coming, but I'm not sure about it. If he's, "one of the good guys" then why was he being such an asshole in the interrogation? It seems like it'd be much better to be cooperative if you're one of the good guys and try to convince your interrogator of your innocence. I'm definitely convinced that he wasn't lying about Reddington not being what she thinks he is, but I feel like that almost goes without saying. I still don't trust him, but I'm a lot more wary of Reddington now on top of that.

Number 1 rule of being interrogated: the cops are not your friends. Your innocence or guilt does not matter, they are paid to prove your guilt. They don't want to "help" you. He was guilty (of something, anyway). He essentially did the best job he could to get himself out of the situation. He might be a "good guy" in terms of Liz and her life, but that may not line up with the interests of Red or the FBI.

a.) Why go through all the trouble to kill Jolene then..
b.) Why did your brother stay reluctant to say anything during interrogation and committed suicide.
c.) Why ask what her relationship with Red is if his Organization seems to already know.

Over what time-span has the show taken place? Because if Tom was planted with Liz to get to Red, then the time-line doesn't really work, since Red did not surrender over 2 years ago.

If Tom was planted to get info on Red, it is safe to say they (Berlin?) knew about Red's 'relationship' with Liz from before he surrendered. The paper in the box could show paternity test/Red's history with the family house he destroyed.

The other option is that Red surrendered to get close to Liz in order to get to Tom in order to do something to Berlin, which makes more sense time-line wise. Tom would have been planted to protect Liz, in that case?

Based on his information wall, I don't think Tom knows the relationship between Liz and Red. His board seemed to indicate he was trying to figure out their connection and where she fits to somehow use this knowledge when Berlin goes up against Red.

I assumed Berlin knew of a connexion, and planted Tom in order to draw out Red, who knew something was up with Tom. Red then surrendered in order to protect Liz from whatever Tom is. But at this point, I've got no real idea, haha!

Tom also asked why Red was interested in Liz. So he didn't know what the connection was. That doesn't mean that Berlin doesn't know however. It could be he was put in place without really knowing his mission... that it would unfold as Berlin gave him new intel.

Yea, that thought crossed my mind, too: Berlin could know more than Tom. Obviously Tom is pretty important to Berlin based on how many people were willing to die to get him to safety.

The fact that Tom's 'brother' was willing to jump out of a window seems to me like he knew a lot about Berlin and what Tom's mission was, though.
Or he just didn't want to get tortured for what little information he knew.

This show has some of the best music for their closing montages, it's awesome. Whoever chooses the songs does a great job at choosing good tunes as well as making sure they fit the tone of the episode.

Tom wants revenge on red because he abandoned him that Christmas night. Red is Tom's father. Tom married Elizabeth to get closer to red to avenge him, because he left his family. Keenes dad Sam is a good friend of red and he asked red to protect her.